In the last few months we have all seen that we are living in turbulent times, but we are also living in an exciting new age of technology and innovation. In my area of expertise, media and marketing, we have also seen the rise of new and exciting tools such as QR codes and social media.
And thanks to the rapid expansion of smartphones in the US, QR codes have now become a valid tool in our toolbox.
A few years ago, Pepsi UK put on-pack and on-shelf QR codes as a gateway to a specially created microsite. Consumers snap the code panel using their smartphone and the QR reader app connects the phone to the site. QR codes have now become an exciting way of getting consumers involved, even though it will not work for everyone – yet. The most important thing now is that we can bring an innovative technology like this to early adopters to drive brand kudos and involvement in a new and different way to create the buzz we need.
According to a new market research report, ‘World Mobile phone & Smartphone Market (2010 – 2015)’, (published by MarketsandMarkets.com), the total global smartphone sales in 2015 will account for 75.8% of the overall mobile handset revenue, at a total of approximately US$258.9 billion. That trend will just make QR codes so much more popular in the years to come, and one of the big reasons for you to look into how QR Codes can help you.
QR, or Quick Response Codes, were developed by a subsidiary of Toyota in 1994, called Denso Wave. The use of QR codes is free of any license but the term ‘QR Code’ is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Incorporated.
A QR code is classified as a 2D barcode, compared to the standard 1D barcodes we are so used to seeing on magazines, coupons, books, milk bottles, and other products. A standard barcode is a machine readable linear code, from left to right, or right to left, while a QR barcode is read both horizontally and vertically. The key difference between the two is the amount of data they can hold or share.
QR Codes are today used in print advertising, brochures, product specifications, on business cards, websites, store windows, mugs, t-shirts, and much more. The usage is only limited by your imagination. With some help, you can definitively take QR Codes to infinity and beyond.
Consumers today have become part of an on-demand “me” generation, who wants immediate access to movies, music, news and whatever is relevant to them whenever they want. Today, QR codes are being used to make that possible for businesses in all industries. Smartphones like iPhone, Blackberry and Droid are able to scan these 2D QR barcodes and trigger an action on your phone.
So who are scanning these QR codes? Mobio Identity Systems, Inc. has assembled a report to share consumer trends and the data accumulated from consumer QR code scans in North America. All of the data is pulled directly from their servers, and encompasses the final 6 months (second half) of 2010.
Some of the plain facts according to Mobio are:
• The majority of QR scanning is coming from individuals in the 35-44 years of age bracket (25%).
• Steady adoption is being seen amongst all age brackets between 18 and 54 years of age (84%).
• A majority of QR scanners are females (64%) – generally head of households.
• QR barcode scanning grew an impressive 1,200% from July to December 2010.
• QR scanning to receive information on a product or service is by far the most popular type.
How can you as a business get started with your own QR marketing campaign? There are plenty of websites where you can create your own QR Code – and it is all free. Just Google “QR code generator” and you will find over a million page results.
QR Codes are popping up all over the place, and the practical uses for QR Codes are many. Codes are now appearing in magazines, newspapers, on billboards, in store windows, on real estate for sale, on websites, on business cards, posted next to paintings and sculptures at museums, and even on t-shirts and business cards.
When scanned with a Smartphone, the link can take the user to a landing page on a specific website, your Linkedin profile, a product video, a vCard, a coupon, a user manual or more information about an artist. ‘Nuff said. It’s cool, and it really works well when done right. You can say that it is the next generation Direct Mail tool with measurable results.
Yes, QR Codes can come with analytics. Now you can know and track the performance of your marketing campaigns that make use of QR codes. You can see which campaign is working and which one you need to tweak. QR analytics is an invaluable tool for anyone who spends money on marketing.
With analytics you can find out how often a QR Code is scanned, the location where the QR Code was scanned and more. Sounds like heaven for a marketing manager doesn’t it?
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Tags: Marketing, media. website, QR codes, social media, technology
